When asthma is under control, you (or your child) should be free of asthma symptoms, or at least experience mild ones. An asthma action plan can help you recognize early warning signs so you can act to prevent an asthma attack. But simply having a plan isn't enough – you also need to know how to use this tool to stop asthma attacks, before they get out of control.
Difficulty: N/A
Time Required: 5 minutes
Here's How:
- Make sure you have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan. An action plan helps you to record your asthma triggers and your prescribed treatment.
- Then, make sure you understand your action plan. It helps you identify how severe the asthma symptoms you are noticing may be. It also helps you to know what action, if any, to take when you do start to have symptoms.
- Keep your asthma action plan with you at all times or, if your child has asthma, make sure your child's caregivers have a copy. Your plan can't guide you if you don't have it close by when your symptoms begin. If you have to go looking for it, you may not be able to act quickly enough to hold off an asthma attack.
- Prevention is half the battle. Take steps to avoid being exposed to the things you know will set off your symptoms. Prevention is always the first step to taking control of asthma.
- Know your "zones." Asthma action plans are divided into three zones: green, yellow and red. When you are in the green zone, you do not have symptoms and your asthma is under control. If you cross into the yellow zone, you are probably having a few mild symptoms, which means your asthma is getting worse and action may be needed to prevent an asthma attack. Red zone means emergency action is needed.
- Be alert for new or worsening symptoms. If your asthma medicines are working properly, you (or your child) shouldn't be having symptoms very often. But it can be hard to avoid triggers all of the time, so symptoms may crop up.
- Evaluate the severity of your symptoms. Compare how you are feeling with the levels on your action plan. For example, yellow zone usually means you are having a mild cough, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. Yellow also may mean that your symptoms are waking you up at night and making it hard for you to do some of your usual activities. Compare how you feel to the zones on your plan.
- Check your peak flow readings, if you use a peak flow meter. Symptoms are a good measure of how you are feeling and your peak flow readings should confirm what is going on in your airways.
- Confirm that you have taken all of your medicines. Sometimes, daily life gets hectic, so check to be sure you or your child have had all the asthma medicine scheduled for that day. If you have missed any doses, follow your doctor's instructions on how to handle missed doses. It may not always be safe to just take medicine when you remember it.
- Follow the planned actions for the zone you are in. For example, if you are in yellow zone, your plan may say to add a quick-relief medicine and then call your doctor if symptoms do not subside. Whatever your plan says, follow all of the steps.
- Respond quickly to emergency warning signs. You need to get emergency help immediately, without following your action plan steps, if you have any of the following:
- lips or fingernails turning blue or purplish (cyanosis)
- trouble walking or talking
- chest sucking in
- nostrils flaring open
Tips:
- Print out the Asthma Action Plan on this site. Get your doctor to help you fill it out.
- Keep your action plan in a sheet protector or folder, or laminate it, so that it doesn't get torn, soiled, or lost.
- Make duplicate copies: one for the house, one for your purse or wallet, one for work, one for the car, one for each of your child's caregivers, etc.
What You Need:
- Asthma Action Plan
- Peak Flow Meter
- Asthma Controller Medicines
- Asthma Quick-Relief Medicine
- Your Doctor's Phone Number
